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Criterion
Paper illustration for Soft Systems Methodology.
Systems Thinking
Soft Systems Methodology
Rich Picture workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Rich Picture
How Might We
Innovation
How Might We
Paper illustration of VUCA Scan with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
VUCA Scan
Purposedifferent
Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action.A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early.With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction.The VUCA Scan helps read difficult situations more precisely. Instead of treating unclarity as generally complicated, the method separates fast change, missing knowledge, systemic entanglement, and ambiguous interpretation.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowLowLow
Timedifferent
0.5-3 Tage30-90 min30–45 min30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
5-152-101-101-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change AgendaRich Picture, Problem Framing NotesHMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea PromptsVUCA Map, Response Options, Signal and Learning Plan
Tagsno overlap
Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking
Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization
FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions
SensemakingUncertaintyComplexityStrategyForesight
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